Nonstop flight route between Atwater, California, United States and Van Horn, Texas, United States:
Departure Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Arrival Airport:
(31°3'28"N by 104°47'2"W)
Distance from MER to VHN:
1,000.24 miles (1,609.72 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- MER Airport Information
- VHN Airport Information
- Facts about MER
- Facts about VHN
- Map of Nearest Airports to MER
- List of Nearest Airports to MER
- Map of Furthest Airports from MER
- List of Furthest Airports from MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to VHN
- List of Nearest Airports to VHN
- Map of Furthest Airports from VHN
- List of Furthest Airports from VHN
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States and Culberson County Airport (VHN), Van Horn, Texas, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,000 miles (or 1,610 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the relatively short distance between Castle Airport and Culberson County Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MER / KMER |
| Airport Name: | Castle Airport |
| Location: | Atwater, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 191 feet (58 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MER |
| More Information: | MER Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | VHN / KVHN |
| Airport Name: | Culberson County Airport |
| Location: | Van Horn, Texas, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 31°3'28"N by 104°47'2"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Culberson County |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 3957 feet (1,206 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from VHN |
| More Information: | VHN Maps & Info |
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Because of Castle Airport's relatively low elevation of 191 feet, planes can take off or land at Castle Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
- The EPA currently has this base listed on their database due to the bulk wastes such as solvents, oils, fuels, and sludges which were disposed in pits at landfills around the base until 1977.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- It was estimated that the cost to relocate the 129 RQW to Castle, to include associated military construction costs, could be recouped in seven years.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
Facts about Culberson County Airport (VHN):
- Culberson County Airport (VHN) has 2 runways.
- The closest airport to Culberson County Airport (VHN) is Marfa Municipal Airport (MRF), which is located 66 miles (106 kilometers) SE of VHN.
- The furthest airport from Culberson County Airport (VHN) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 11,363 miles (18,286 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.26 miles (11.68 km) SSE | Merced Regional Airport (MCE) | Merced, California, United States |     |
| 2 | 27.12 miles (43.65 km) NW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States | |
| 3 | 27.51 miles (44.27 km) SW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.78 miles (47.92 km) W | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 5 | 36.91 miles (59.40 km) SE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.69 miles (73.53 km) N | Columbia Airport (COA) | Columbia, California, United States | |
| 7 | 51.03 miles (82.13 km) NW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 8 | 57.32 miles (92.24 km) SW | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 9 | 60.88 miles (97.98 km) SE | Fresno Chandler Executive AirportChandler Municipal Airport (Old) (FCH) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 10 | 62.71 miles (100.91 km) SE | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 11 | 68.82 miles (110.76 km) W | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 12 | 71.93 miles (115.77 km) WNW | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 13 | 73.96 miles (119.02 km) WSW | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 14 | 74.75 miles (120.29 km) W | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 15 | 75.76 miles (121.93 km) SW | Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Army Air Base (SNS) | Salinas, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,311.72 miles (18,204.41 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,301.64 miles (18,188.18 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,273.49 miles (18,142.87 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,260.93 miles (18,122.66 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,205.02 miles (18,032.69 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,196.39 miles (18,018.79 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,137.28 miles (17,923.67 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,111.96 miles (17,882.92 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,011.03 miles (17,720.49 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,008.37 miles (17,716.22 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,993.21 miles (17,691.82 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,972.89 miles (17,659.11 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,963.56 miles (17,644.10 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,945.21 miles (17,614.56 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,920.84 miles (17,575.35 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 65.75 miles (105.82 km) SE | Marfa Municipal Airport (MRF) | Marfa, Texas, United States | |
| 2 | 78.50 miles (126.33 km) ENE | Pecos Municipal Airport (PEQ) | Pecos, Texas, United States | |
| 3 | 80.23 miles (129.12 km) SE | Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport (ALE) | Alpine, Texas, United States | |
| 4 | 93.57 miles (150.58 km) NNE | Cavern City Air Terminal (CNM) | Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | |
| 5 | 104.96 miles (168.92 km) WNW | Abraham González International Airport (CJS) | Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 6 | 104.96 miles (168.92 km) WNW | Nuevo Casas Grandes Municipal Airport (NCG) | Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico | |
| 7 | 105.79 miles (170.25 km) ENE | Winkler County Airport (INK) | Wink, Texas, United States | |
| 8 | 107.27 miles (172.64 km) WNW | El Paso International Airport (ELP) | El Paso, Texas, United States | |
| 9 | 108.82 miles (175.13 km) WNW | Biggs Army Airfield (BIF) | Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, United States | |
| 10 | 111.27 miles (179.07 km) E | Fort Stockton-Pecos County Airport (FST) | Fort Stockton, Texas, United States | |
| 11 | 125.38 miles (201.78 km) N | Artesia Municipal Airport (ATS) | Artesia, New Mexico, United States | |
| 12 | 142.01 miles (228.54 km) NNW | Alamogordo–White Sands Regional Airport (ALM) | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | |
| 13 | 145.37 miles (233.94 km) NE | Lea County Regional Airport (HOB) | Hobbs, New Mexico, United States | |
| 14 | 146.24 miles (235.35 km) NNW | Holloman Air Force Base Alamogordo Army Airfield (HMN) | Alamogordo, New Mexico, United States | |
| 15 | 151.81 miles (244.31 km) NW | Las Cruces International Airport (LRU) | Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,362.69 miles (18,286.43 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 11,124.43 miles (17,903.00 km) ESE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 11,040.78 miles (17,768.36 km) ESE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 11,029.24 miles (17,749.79 km) ESE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,669.30 miles (17,170.54 km) E | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 10,643.04 miles (17,128.28 km) ESE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 10,591.07 miles (17,044.63 km) ESE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 10,579.37 miles (17,025.81 km) ESE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,573.81 miles (17,016.86 km) ESE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 10,539.91 miles (16,962.30 km) SW | Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK) | Cocos Islands, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,530.45 miles (16,947.07 km) E | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,511.82 miles (16,917.10 km) ESE | Antsirabato Airport (ANM) | Antalaha, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,511.12 miles (16,915.96 km) ESE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,469.01 miles (16,848.19 km) ESE | Mandritsara Airport (WMA) | Mandritsara, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,441.45 miles (16,803.84 km) ESE | Tsaratanana Airport (TTS) | Tsaratanana, Madagascar. | |